Apparatus and method for applying gummed labels to cellophane



Nov. 9, 1943. -J.K. TQMPKINS Q 33 5 APPARATUS AND METHOD FORRPPLYINGYGUMMED LABELS TO CELLOPHAINE' Filed May 6. 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet2 I I a IW/ENTOR, JQHN K 3 R BY TQM Patented Nov. 9, 1943 UNITEDAPPARATUS AND METHOD FOR APPLYING:

GUMlVlED LABELS TO CELLOPHANE 7 John Kirby Tompkins, Narberth, Pa.

Application May'fi, 1942, Serial No. 441,936 Claims." (01. 2113- -21 Myinvention relates to the'securement of water soluble gummed labels toCellophane and like material in which heat and moisture are com-' binedto eflect the adhesion of the label to the Cellophane wrapper. Among theobjects and purposes are to provide:

A wrapping of Cellophane or like material having a label secured theretoin which the adhesive is water soluble and which will not normallyadhere to the Cellophane unless heat is combined with the moistadhesive.

A device for feeding labels and Cellophane and providing a moist watersoluble adhesive and T heating means to cause the water soluble gum toadhere to the Cellophane.

A device for moistening the surface of Cellophane or the like and theapplication of a label having water soluble adhesive and heat to securethe label to the Cellophane.

A method of securing labels with moist water soluble adhesive toCellophane or like material by heat and pressure.

A rapid means of permanently securing labels to Cellophane by applyingmoist glue or water soluble gum and heat. r

I accomplish these and other objects by the method, process andconstruction hereinafter specified and shown in the accompanyingdrawings forming a part hereof, in which:

Fig. l is a section and elevation showing the operation of my device.

Fig. 2 is a section and elevation of a modification.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section of tion.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan View.

Similar reference characters refer to similar a modificaparts throughoutthe several views of the drawlugs and in the specifications to follow.

The use of Cellophane and similar material for wrapping packages, foods,bread and cake has become nearly universal, and the securement oflabels, seals, and the like, to this material, has

presented a problem because only by the use of In my application, Serial#437,476, I have shown means for moistening the gum or adhesive on thelabel which, because it is moist, in turn moistens the Cellophane atwhich time heat and pressure are applied to complete the securement.

,In this instant patent application I have shown means for moisteningthe Cellophane direct or the moistening of the Cellophane by applyingmoist adhesive to labels as they are about to be contacted and heated insecuring the labels to the Cellophane.

A label having any of the commonly used water soluble gums may bepermanently secured to Cellophane or the like by moistening the gum andthen, while moist, heating the label and pressing itonto the surface ofthe Cellophane.

The combining of moisture, heat and pressure to the label at the time ofits application, insures its permanent adhesion to the Cellophane. Theordinary label thus-will not peel off as it would if not moistened, oras it would if it were merely heated.

To facilitate these operations, I have provided a moistener toa machinewhich, in other respects, may be the same as now used in securing rubbercoated labels to Cellophane. I do not wish to imply that other machinesand attachments to machines cannot be made to work equally well using myinvention in its simple broad concept, i. e. that of applying labelshaving ordinary water soluble gum to Cellophane, using moisture andheat.

Obviously, my apparatus for applying my proc ess may be modifiedinnumerous particulars without departing from the principles underlyingmy invention.

The product, as well as the machine and the process also is new andforms a part of my invention. A wrapper of Cellophane, in which theadhesive forthe label is water soluble is, by the application of heat,forced to combine with the chemical elements of the Cellophane, therebyforming a bond with the adhesive and the label, to which the adhesive issecured and which may be paper or other material, is thus permanentlysecured to and forms a part of the wrapper.

Referring to the drawings, the frame I may be that of a machine forwrapping and, labeling cakes, etc.; and in addition to the affixing ofthe labels 2, which are preferably in a continuous strip 3 and in a roll4, is suited to feed and handle the cakes into the machine as well as towrap each cake with a Cellophane wrapper to which has been secured thelabels 2.

The machine may be constructed to slice the 2 cake and perform numerousoperations in connection with the cake which are not necessarilydependent on the securing of the label to the Cellophane wrapper for thecake.

For the sake of brevity and clarity, I will describe in detail only theparts of the machine which cooperate to secure the label with its-watersoluble adhesive to the Cellophane. The parts, as well as theoperations, may vary in their disposition to each other and to themachine asa whole, but are illustrative of the required prin-. cipaloperations to accomplish the function and result.

The roll 4 is preferably rotatably supported in relation to the machineor frame I and the continuous strip of labels is fed into the machine bythe feed rolls 5 which control the tension, pres-v sure-andrelation ofthe label strip.

In the modification shown in Fig. 3, I have shown one of the feed rolls6 partially immersed in water soluble glue or gum which is provided inthe reservoir-3 at a predetermined level Sand may be kept at the desiredtemperature and vis-' cosity by the heater I which may be a gas burneror other heating element such as an electric heater and may becontrolled to maintain the desired temperature by the thermostat IS. Thestrip of ungummed labels I! is fed from a roll. 4

in the'same manner as the stripof gummed labels;

3 shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The glue, however, in the modification shown in Fig. 3, is ordinarilysuificiently moist so that the further moistening of the Cellophane tocooperate with the heat when securing the labels is not necessary.

In Figs. 1 and'2, I have shown the Cellophane as having a patch ofmoisture applied to its surface. The method used in Fig. 1- may becontinuous while the method illustrated in Fig. 2

may be such. that the Cellophane may travel intermittently whilereceiving the moisture on its surface.

Referring particularly to my. device as shown in Fig. 1, it will be seenthat as the sheet of- Cellophane I2 is fed from its roll l3 and whiletravel-' ing upwardly, a shield 2| isprovided and so shaped andpositioned that a fine spray will be confined to the exact marginalregister of the lalpi 2 which later is deposited'on the patch orCellophane so moisarea of the surface of the tened. a v

The moistened patch of Cellophane is thus confined to a limited area thesizeand shape of the label and so spotted or positioned that the labelswill be spaced as desired on the surface of the Cellophane. 1

The timing of the spray will thus be seen as important.

knife l0 which severs the labels 2 from the strip of labels 3. Both thejet and the knife are timed by the cam 24 on the shaft 25 of heater rollII.

The knife may also be operated by the solenoid 23'. The labels 2 are cutfrom the strip 3 by the knife Ill, whereupon the heater ll' engages thelabel and presses it firmly against the Cellophane The Jet 22 is openedby a solenoid 23 which is synchronized with the timing of thewound onanother roll, or cut ofi'and piled in a stack for other use.

' The heater may be maintained at the desired temperature by theelectric element l4 which may and toggle 33.

may contact the label but once per revolution when traveling at aperipheral speed equal to the rate of speed of the travel of theCellophane. The heated roll remains out of contact a substantial part ofeach revolution and only comes in contact with the label during thatpart of its revolution when its raised surface 15 engages the labelafter the label has been cut from the strip. The Cellophane is heatedsimultaneously with the label and adhesive.

The jet 22 is supplied with water or adhesive and water or such otherliquid best suited to the securement of the labels to the Cellophanefrom the container or reservoir l8 through the suction pipe l9.Compressed air for atomizing and projecting the spray onto the sheet bythe jet may be supplied to the jet by the air hose 21. Surplus moisturefrom the shield 2i may be drained back Referring to Fig. 2 of thedrawings, the moistening means for the Cellophane sheet is shown as amoistened absorbent pad 3| intermittently forced against the sheet l2 bythe solenoid 32 The solenoid is synchronized to move with the knife l0.Moisture may be supplied through a wick or other feed 34 from thereservoir 35. The pad" 3| and the other parts may be of a size adaptedto moisten a spot on @the sheet to conform to the size of each'of thelabels 2. 'The position and register of the moist pad and other partsmay be adjusted by means of the adjusting screw 36 and may bemovablymounted in relation to the frame I by the guides 31.

It is not the purpose of this disclosure to show. all of the possiblemodifications which may be made to secure my water soluble adhesive andthe labels thus secured to a sheet of Cellophane, but rather toillustrate to those skilled in the art to which my invention pertains,how the underlying principles may be accomplished. A study of thisdisclosure may suggest modifications which may be used to suit myinvention to numerous other applications for which it is adapted and thepurpose of this detailed description is to illustrate'by example ratherthan to limit the scope of my invention, which is set forth in theappended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device for securing labels by heat and pressure to a sheetcomprising in combination means feeding the labels and sheet, meansplacing each label at a predetermined position on said sheet, heatpressing means securing the label to the'sheet, said sheet carrying saidlabel to said heat pressing means.

2. In a device for securing labels by heat and pressure to a sheetcomprising in combination" said heat pressing means, and meansmoistening said label before being placed on said sheet and duringtransit on said sheet to said heat pressing means.

3. A label affixing machine for labels having a water soluble adhesiveand a heat pressing means for uniting the labels to a continuous movingsheet of Cellophane or the like, comprising means for moistening a spoton said sheet of Cellophane while in motion to moisten the water solubleadhesive on the label when brought into register with said moistenedspot and severing means placing the cut oil label on said spot to becarried by and on said Cellophane sheet while in motion, said heatpressing means afiixing said label to said moistened spot on said sheetwhile in motion.

4. A label ailixing machine for labels having a water soluble adhesiveand a heat pressing means for uniting the labels to a continuous movingsheet of Cellophane or the like, comprising means for moistening a spoton said sheet of Cellophane while in motion to moisten the water solubleadhesive on the label when brought into register with said moistenedspot and severing means placing the cut off label on said spot to becarried by and on said Cellophane sheet while in motion, said sheetcarrying said label to said heat pressing means and said heat pressingmeans afiixing said label to said sheet while in motion.

5. A label aflixing machine for labels having a water soluble adhesiveand a heat pressing means for uniting the labels to a continuous movingsheet of Cellophane or the like, comprising means for moistening a spoton said sheet of Cellophane while in motion to moisten the water solubleadhesive on the label when brought into register with said moistenedspot and severing means placing the cut off label on said spot to becarried by and on said Cellophane sheet whil in motion, said moisteningmeans comprising an adjustable supporting means disposed in the path oftravel of said sheet and means connecting said severing means to saidmoistening means, whereby the register and timing of said moisteningmeans conforms to the spot on said Cellophane at the time of severanceof the label.

6. A label aflixing machine for labels having a water soluble adhesiveand a heat pressing means for uniting the labels to a continuous movingsheet of Cellophane or the like, comprising means for moistening a spoton said sheet of Cellophane while in motion to moisten the water solubleadhesive on the label when brought into register with said moistenedspot and severing means placing the cut off label on said spot to becarried by and on said Cellophane sheet while in motion, said moisteningmeans comprising an adiustable sup orting means disposed in the path oftravel of said sheet and means connecting said severin means to saidmoistenin means, whereby the re ister and timing of said moisteningmeans conforms to the spot on said Cellophane at the time of severanceof the label. said adjustable supporting means comprising a reservoirand shield and a jet for spraying liquid from said reesrvoir.

'7. A label affixing machine for labels having a water soluble adhesiveand a heat pressing means for uniting the labels to a continuous movingsheet of Cellophane or the like, comprising means 5 for moistening aspot on said sheet of Cellophane whilein motion to moisten the watersoluble adhesive on the label when brought into register with saidmoistened spot and severing means placing the cut off label on said spotto be carried by and on said Cellophane sheet while in motion, saidmoistening means comprising an adjustable supporting means disposed inthe path of travel of said sheet and means connecting said severingmeans to said moistening means, whereby the l5 register and timing ofsaid moistening means conforms to the spot on said Cellophane at the timof severance oi! the label, said adjustable supporting means comprisinga reservoir and a pad moistened by liquid from said reservoir and meansfeeding liquid from said reservoir to said 8. A label affixing machinefor labels having a water soluble adhesive and a heat pressing means foruniting the labels to a continuous moving sheet of Cellophan or thelike, comprising means for moistening a spot on said sheet of Cellophanewhile in motion to moisten the water soluble adhesive on the label whenbrought into register with said moistened spot and severing meansplacing the cut of! label on said spot to be carried by and on saidCellophane sheet while in motion, said moistening means comprising anadjustable supporting means disposed in the path of travel of said sheetand means connecting said severing means to said moistening means,whereby the register and timing of said moistening means conforms to thespot on said Cellophane at the time of severance of the label, saidadjustable supporting means comprising a reservoir and a pad moistenedby liquid from said reservoir and means feeding liquid from saidreservoir to said pad, and operating means forcing said pad against apredetermined spot on said sheet of Cellophane while in motion.

9. In a process for securing labels having water soluble adhesive to aspot on the surface of a continuous moving sheet or material to whichsaid labels will not normally adhere, first depositing the moistenedlabel on said spot, second carrying said label on said sheet andthirdly, heat pressing said label while moist on said moving sheet ofmaterial.

10. In a process for securing labels from a roll of labels to a spot ona moving sheet of Cellophane or the like, to which labels having a watersoluble adhesive will not normally adhere in which a spot on said sheetconforming to the size of the label is first moistened, then the labelis cut oil and deposited on the spot on the moving sheet and carried onand by the sheet and then heat pressing the label on the spot on thesheet while said spot and sheet are in motion to aflix said cut oillabel on said spot on said sheet.

JOHN KIRBY TOMPKINS.

